Pirates A to Z: Osvaldo Bido's MLB debut was another success story for Dominican academy

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Osvaldo Bido

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 28

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 175 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Was 2-5 with a 5.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 21 walks in 50 2/3 innings over 16 games (nine starts).

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in March 2017.

This past season: When the Pirates were short on starting pitchers in spring training the day after split-squad games and with Roansy Contreras and Luis Ortiz playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, they turned to their minor-league camp.

Bido made a strong impression in a spot start in a Grapefruit League game, throwing 17 of his 27 pitches for strikes in a pair of hitless, scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Little did the Pirates know then that Bido would play a more prominent role for them. After Vince Velasquez was lost to a season-ending UCL injury and Contreras was moved to the bullpen for his ineffectiveness, Bido’s contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 14.

It wasn’t because Bido was a top prospect at 27 years of age or dominating the minors. He was 3-4 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 12 appearances (10 starts), recording 56 strikeouts against 24 walks, at Indianapolis.

The Pirates just didn’t have many options.

But Bido became a success story for the Pirates, joining infielder Rodolfo Castro and pitchers Luis Ortiz and Yerry De Los Santos as products of their Dominican academy to make their major league debut with the club. Bido was solid in allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six on 91 pitches over four innings in a 10-6 loss at the Chicago Cubs.

Osvaldo Bido is the 4th player from our Dominican academy to make his big league debut for the Pirates, joining Luis Ortiz, Rodolfo Castro and Yerry de Los Santos ???? pic.twitter.com/tJh6BE1nSF

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) June 15, 2023

First MLB strikeout for @Pirates rookie Osvaldo Bido! pic.twitter.com/cbEQO02njH

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 15, 2023

Bido faced the Cubs again five days later, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings in an 8-0 loss. Five days later, he gave up two runs on nine hits without a walk and recorded five strikeouts in a 4-3 loss at Miami.

Those proved to be the only two starts in which Bido would go beyond four innings, as he got no-decisions in four of his first five starts. After Bido allowed four runs on four hits and one walk without a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings against Milwaukee on June 30, Pirates manager Derek Shelton expressed concern about Bido’s inconsistency.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen his stuff not be sharp,” Shelton said. “Through three starts, he had done a really nice job. But just a little inconsistent. Got out of his delivery a little bit. Wasn’t able to execute pitches.”

After Bido gave up four walks in as many innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pirates moved him into a different role. Bido made his first relief appearance against Arizona on July 10, allowing one hit on 11 pitches over 1 1/3 innings to earn his first MLB win.

“That’s really cool to see,” Shelton said. “He came in and did a really good job after throwing (81) pitches. It was an important inning and a third for us and he did a great job.”

Bido went back and forth as a starter, as the Pirates kept him on a short leash. His second win also came in relief, as he tossed three scoreless innings in a 3-0 win at the Los Angeles Angels, striking out Shohei Ohtani in the third and getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a double play and a strikeout.

Whether the Pirate used him as an opener and in relief didn’t matter much to Bido, who used his time in the majors as a learning experience.

“I’m just going to take advantage of the opportunity and make the most of it,” Bido said. “Some of the most important things are how engaged I am and keeping myself open-minded, learning and with a positive attitude. … I’m just out there to do my job and pitch. That’s it. Whatever slot they want to use me, I’ll be ready.”

That attitude was necessary, as Bido was optioned twice. The first time came Aug. 8, a day after he allowed four runs on four hits in four innings in an 8-7 win over the Atlanta Braves. He was recalled four days later, and gave up the game-winning run in the 10th inning of a 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader.

Bido was optioned again after allowing eight runs on five hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings in a 10-6 loss to the Cubs on Aug. 26, but was recalled in late September for a pair of appearances.

Osvaldo Bido's average 4-seam fastball velocity this season sits at 94.3 MPH

Tonight he has topped out at 98 MPH, with 0 H and 3 K through 2 IP

96 MPH fastball, 2197 RPM, 15 IVB, 10 IHB pic.twitter.com/9WD171CPtr

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) August 7, 2023

The future: Shelton made it clear late in the season how the Pirates viewed Bido as a starter by repeatedly saying that Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo were their only starting pitchers over the final month-plus.

Although Bido showed strong velocity on his fastball, both his four-seamer (.358) and sinker (.300) were too hittable, and his command also became a concern. Bido falls into a similar category as fellow openers in Bailey Falter and Andre Jackson, as pitchers who have value in their versatility but no defined role.

That might not bode well for Bido, especially with the Pirates promising to make acquiring starting pitching an offseason priority.